Abstract
The objective of the present study was to elucidate factors supporting the continuous participation of elderly individuals in a "dementia awareness course", which has been conducted since fiscal year 2009. Semi-structured interviews and a qualitative, descriptive analysis using participant observation were conducted on 18 individuals who had been continuously participating in the present course for at least one and a half years. Based on the results, the following 7 categories were generated: "anyone can develop dementia", "enables me to have experiences that broaden my horizons", "realize the effects of the course through changes in self", "enables me to face up to life", "the course has become a source of support", "there are opportunities for independent participation", and "desire to continue is sometimes hindered". For the participants, who became increasingly aware with age that they too could develop dementia, the course served as an opportunity for independent participation as well as a source of support. On the other hand, factors hindering the desire to continue participation, specifically times at which participants felt they could not keep up with the course, were also identified. These findings indicate the need in the future to support the desire of elderly individuals to continue participation while respecting their independence.
